She was in the bathroom, but where before there’d just been a shower in the corner and not much else, now there was a bath full of hot, scented water and around the bath and on every surface were candles. There was no other light.

‘Oh my God! This is so beautiful!’ she said.

‘It took me all weekend to put the bath in but I was determined to do it for you.’

‘But I thought you had a big job you had to finish.’

‘I have and I will finish it soon, but this took priority. Do you like it?’

‘I absolutely love it, but I feel guilty that you took time away from your work to do this for me.’

‘As they say in the adverts, you’re worth it.’

She put her arms round his neck and pulled down his head so she could kiss him. ‘Thank you so, so much. You are so kind!’

‘Let me add to my kindness and help you get your clothes off so you can get in,’ said Jago.

‘Only if I can help you with yours.’

Eventually they had to get out of the bath as the water was cold but Jago had found somewhere to heat a huge bath sheet that he wrapped round her. Then he picked her up and carried her to his bedroom. He lowered her to the bed and she had time to notice that there were clean sheets, dried in the open air, before he joined her. She felt she had never been so happy before in her life and certainly never had she been so in love.

It wasn’t until they were having breakfast the next morning – early as Jago had to go to work – that Helena remembered to ask him about James. ‘Amy is desperate to meet your newly single friend. Do you think he’d be up for that?’ She didn’t add that being so happy herself made her want to spread the joy.

He finished his mouthful, looking at her thoughtfully. ‘Actually, my single friend is longing to meet you, too. He wants to check you out, make sure you’re good enough for me. And Amy’s a nice, jolly girl; I’m sure they’d get on well.’

‘A jolly girl? You think Amy is a jolly girl?’

‘Anything wrong with that?’

‘Not really, it’s just not very – I don’t know – it’s not how women like to be thought of.’

Jago shrugged. ‘Nothing wrong with jolly,’ he said. ‘Currently I’m too besotted by another woman to be able to see her best friend as sexy or beautiful or any of those things. She is pretty though, I’ll give her that.’

‘Big of you! Do you want the marmalade?’

‘Please.’

‘So, what shall we do? Have them both to dinner?’ She chewed her lip at the thought. It would be rather high pressure.